NZV8 season stats highlight McIntyre’s abilities
Top race driver John McIntyre can look back on another highly competitive season in the New Zealand V8 Championship with the satisfaction of knowing that his own performance continues to improve.
Since starting John McIntyre Racing in 2006, the Nelson-based driver has accumulated some impressive statistics with his own car and team.
In these four seasons, McIntyre has either won the series outright or secured a solid second place in arguably the hardest-fought motor racing championship in New Zealand. McIntyre has taken more pole positions, more race wins, and more round wins than any other competitor.
‘Johnny Mac’ has contested 27 rounds and 81 races across these four seasons, including one non-championship round at the Hamilton 400. He’s won 9 (or 33.33%) of the possible 27 pole positions, 27 (or 33.33%) races from 81 starts and achieved ten (or 37%) round wins from the 27 rounds.
“It’s actually a very instructive thing to do – to break down your performance as a team like this,” says McIntyre, whose team is based in Hawke’s Bay, his home province. “Of course, it’s fantastic to see how we’re improving as well.
“The pole position numbers are interesting. One pole from seven rounds in 2006/07, then two from six in 2007/08, and two from seven in 2008/09. In 2009/10, with the regulation change to a top ten one-lap shootout format, it was particularly satisfying to achieve four poles from six rounds. I think this highlights the increased intensity and level of competitiveness I’ve attained this past year, in part due to the time spent with Stone Brothers Racing as one of their endurance drivers in the Australian V8 Supercar series.”
McIntyre can see a pattern of building car speed and how both the team and he have adjusted better to the one-lap shootout qualifying format.
“This season you can see that by starting a weekend with the aim of winning pole position, the team has been able to build on this by winning race one, often race two and more often than not, the whole weekend as well.”
From McIntyre’s four pole positions in the 2009-10 season, he won the first race four times, the second race three times and the weekend three times.
“You’ve got to convert pole position into a race one victory, or you lose the advantage. John McIntyre Racing chalked up its 27th NZV8 race victory at the last round in Taupo in March.”
That win was also McIntyre’s 48th in his career as a NZV8 driver.
The team will be back on the Hamilton street circuit in April where the NZV8s are again a key support class for the Australian V8 Supercars contesting the ITM 400.
“We always look forward to the challenges of a street circuit – there’s no room for error – and it’s a fantastic way to acknowledge the much appreciated support of our many, many fans and sponsors.”
McIntyre thanks Talley's, Castrol Edge, Protector Safety, Prime Explosives, Ford NZ, The Rock FM, Ideal Electrical, Websters Hydrated Lime, Avon City Ford, BP Ultimate, Dynamic Fluid Systems, Speedshow, Cookes Wirerope, Colorfast Signs, Amcor Packaging and Squawking Magpie Wines and City Collision Repairs Napier for their ongoing support this season.
